Performing in the clutch is what seperates a winning driver from the rest of the pack. Flexing muscle at the right time is something that true talents posess. Often luck plays a big role in winning versus losing, but being able to squeeze just enough strength out at the perfect opportunity is what separates winners from losers. Performing in the clutch doesn't necessarily mean winning, however; it's all about making the most from what you've got.

That's why Quarter Master, providers of winning clutches & driveline components to racers from Super Speedway to the Bullring, from IRL to Rally, from NASCAR to the "Weekend Warrior," is proud to honor a weekly "Clutch Performance of the Week" from the short track ranks of America. Each week, an esteemed panel of short track industry insiders will vote on which drivers came through in the clutch. The driver or team with the most votes will then be the "Clutch Performance of the Week." At the end of the 2009 season, the driver or team that received the most votes throughout the season will then be the "Clutch Performer of the Year" and will be awarded a clutch kit from Quarter Master, valued at $3,500 - just like the 2008 Quarter Master Clutch Performer of the Year winner Eddie MacDonald.

This week's "Quarter Master Clutch Performance of the Week" goes to ...

The Quarter Master Clutch Performance of the Week is intended to salute the competitor who can overcome plenty of obstacles to pull out a strong performance anyways.

That's why our panel voted Eric Beers as this week's winner of the Quarter Master Clutch Performance of the Week.

Beers started out the season by winning the Modified feature on opening day at Mahoning Valley Speedway (PA). It was an event that included some heavy hitters in the field including Matt Hirschman and Earl Paules.

And it was Beers' first race driving for car owners Dave and Laura DeLange.

This was Beers' 25th career victory at the track, but this win likely means quite a bit more than any other one.

In addition to the stress and pressure that comes

with racing for new car owners, Beers was racing with a very heavy heart close to his home this weekend.

In the off-season, Beers' 12-year-old nephew, Dakota Galusha, lost his life in a traffic accident. Also in the off-season, Beers' former car owner and longtime friend Keith Kocher passed away. Then, in early April, Beers' father Dale passed away.

That was all far from Beers' mind on raceday though. In the words of one of our panelists, "Eric just got in the car and drove."

Sean Caisse took down second-place in voting for the Quarter Master Clutch Performance of the Week. The reasons were two-fold. First he made the most of a one-race opportunity to drive in the ARCA RE/MAX Series by shaking off the rust and winning one of the series' biggest races of the season at Rockingham Speedway. Secondly, he did so by conserving fuel and making it to the finish when Cup veteran Ken Schrader ran out of gas near the end of the race.

Corey LaJoie took down third place in the voting for an entirely different reason - one that a panelist of ours capured perfectly with his voting comments. That reason? "For using his clutch in between turns three and four, leaving way early on a Green-White-Checkered finish and taking his first UARA win. It shouldn't have been a win since he left earlier than the guy that has to get up and make the doughnuts, but they let him keep it."

Finishing fourth in the voting was Brad Leighton for winning the ACT opener at Lee USA Speedway (NH). Leighton only runs a partial schedule on the ACT Tour and needed a victory this season to be invited to the tour's big race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September. He got that out of the way quickly by winning the first race of the year.

Patrick Sheltra's fine runner-up finish in the ARCA race at Rockingham rounded out the top five this week.